Luke got back to the bay where his ship was parked. When he walked in the bay he notice the ramp was down and he heard people on board. He reached out with the force and felt 3 people. Mara he was sure about and the other two he thought might be Aves and Chen.
He was about to walk up the boarding ramp when Aves and Chen walk down.
"Guys."
"Hey Luke, Mara can explain. Just ask her but be warned she just got some bad news." Aves told him.
"How bad?"
Chen looked back up the ramp. "Real bad."
"OK, thanks."
Luke found her in the cargo bay going through some creates. "Mara."
Mara jumped which surprised Luke. "Hey, I hope you don't mind. I had some of my stuff that I kept on the Fire brought over her for the moment."
"Mara what's wrong?"
"The Fire is gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"Some drunk crashed his speeder into it. It was totaled."
Luke walked over and took Mara in his arms. He knew how much the Fire met to her. "I'm sorry."
"I would say it's OK, but we would both know it wasn't. I decided since I need some time, I would help you with you Mustafar mission."
Luke didn't ask if she was sure. She would probably shot him for it. "If that's what you want, then welcome abord. Lets head upstairs and take off, unless you need to get anything else?"
"No we can leave."
They both headed for the cockpit where Luke took the controls. Mara got them cleared with traffic control and then they were off.
Once they were in hyperspace Luke told her of his meeting with Cracken. "Knowing Cracken he will get a trust worthy team together that can handle anything that comes up."
"Is there anything else, you seemed troubled."
Luke told her about his reunion with his family. He told her he was hoping his sister could wait before starting in on him.
"Leia never accepted her Jedi heritage because of what our father become. I'm not sure she wants the kids to learn. I think she would rather see them become politicians since it is safer. Not Jedi running around the Galaxy helping others and at times getting in danger."
"I can see where she would rather her family be safe but she will need to let the kids make their own decision or lose then."
"Tell Leia that. I know she lost a lot but some times she acts like she is the only one. We have all lost family."
"She just doesn't want to lose any more but I understand your point. She grew up a spoiled child and I know this because I remember her from Palpatine's court. She was use to getting her way. Even today people usualy bend to what she wants. Yes usualy she does want what is best for the Republic but she needs to be told no also."
"That is part of the problem. In the begining I didn't disagree with her even if I thought she might be wrong. The first time I met her she was bosey and acter like a spoiled bratt that always got her way."
Luke went on to tell Mara a few stories including the one from the first Death Star. They talked till it got late then turned the ship over to the droids. Luke cooked dinner and the two went to Luke's room and got some sleep.
L/M
Luke landed the ship at his home on Tatooine. Mara was surprised when she saw he had a large hanger bay dug into the cliff side.
Has they been shutting down Mara looked out the cockpit and saw Luke's X-wing. "I was wondering where you had the X-wing."
"Yea, I haven't flown it since we first arrived. I will need to have R2 take it out and let the engines run for a little bit. He can do that while we start getting all this data downloaded to the data storage banks I have here, but first let's get you settled in."
Luke led her off the ship and down the tunnel to his home. When they walked in, he showed her around. He was not surprised she put her stuff in his room. They had not done anything other than sleep next to each other, but both said they had never slept better.
Mara decided to take a shower and then put all her stuff away. While she was doing that Luke checked his messages. He had on from Han letting him know that he and the kids are fine and miss him. He also said Leia had been quiet the last couple days. Luke replied and let Han know that they arrive OK and would be heading back in a few days to meet up with Cracken.
Luke then read a message from Cracken. He let Luke know that Iella would be his contact if he had any questions before he got back to Coruscant. He also told him they would be taking the Mon Remonda and a small fleet. Both the Rogues and Wraiths would be going. He also had his son's squadron and a B-wing squadron. Commander Page would supply the ground troops.
Mara came in as he was reading. "Looks like Cracken is not taking any chances"
Luke looked behind him to Mara. "No, I would say this is over kill but I really have no idea what we will find there."
"No better to be safe then sorry. With the Rogues there we will have Corran with us. Who else were you planning on bringing?"
"If the Wraiths are going I might see if Tyria wants to go. She can work with the Wraiths. I figure they will be on the ground. Maybe Steen and Kirana Ti."
"That would give us 6. We can see how Cracken splits his people up and put a Jedi with each group. As long as I am with you. Someone has to keep you out of trouble."
"I'll message Iella and let her know how many Jedi we will have and ask her how Cracken plans on organizing his people. Let her know I would like to have at least two Jedi with each group."
"You might want to bring in Saba and Kyp. I don't care for Kyp all that much but he is powerfull. Saba would never forgive you if you left her out of this hunt."
"No she would be upset. OK, I'll add the two and contact Kam. He can get them all together and off to Corcuscant."
"I'll contact Yavin, you go start with the data we brought back. Also go shave that beard off or I am not kissing you anymore."
"OK OK, I'll go start getting things going with the data and then come in and clean up." With that Luke left for the hanger.
Mara called Yavin and got a tech monitoring communication. She asked for Kam or Tionne. Both of them arrived a few minutes later.
"Mara this is a suprise." greeted Tionne.
"Hello Tionne and hello to you too Kam."
"Mara if you are trying to find Luke, he is not here and I'm not sure where he is at the moment."
"No, I'm with him already. The reason for this call is that Luke as a mission that he feels needs more Jedi for."
"You will have to tell me later how it is you and Luke ended up together. What is the mission and who does he want."
"It's to Mustafar. His father visited him and asked Luke to clear the place out. There is suppose to be some Jedi items there. Luke has Cracken putting together a team to help since we don't know what all is there.
He wants you to get Saba, Kyp, Steem, Kirana Ti and Tyria. The Rogues will be there so we will have Corran, myself and Luke. 8 Jedi in all."
"All powerfull Jedi but Tyria."
"The Wraiths are going also. She was part of them before and she will get to spend some time with Kell."
"She may not be as powerfull as the rest of you but she is smart and resourcefull. Unlike the rest of us she earned her knighthood on her own." Kam pointed out.
"How soon does Luke need them?" asked Tionne.
"We will be at are current location probably 3 days then will be heading back to Corsucant. So we should be back in 5 days.
Cracken got the Mon Remonda and a small fleet. Let them know to be there in 4 or 5 days. I'll let Iella know and she can contact the Mon Remonda so they can land on the cruiser."
"OK, we will get things going here. Do you want us to send Cilghal also in case of you do run in trouble. She can be on hand to help with medical emergencies."
"Not a bad idea. I will ask Luke and send you a message."
"OK, we will message you when everything is set up and they are on their way." with that Tionne and Mara said the goodbyes and ended the call.
Mara then headed to the hanger to see what she needed to help with.
L/M
"You notice she didn't say anything when you mentioned them together." Kam asked his wife.
"I did. Looks like they have finally got together." Tionne said with a smile. "I think she will be good for Luke. Now we have work to do."
L/M
Leia was in her office when Winter told her that General Cracken needed to speak with her. She told Winter to let him in.
Cracken walked in and sat in front of Leia's desk. "What can I do for you General."
"The NRI will be joining the Jedi on a joint operation in about a week."
"Why am I just hearing about it?" asked Leia.
"Because things are moving fast on this one. Master Skywalker ask for my help a couple days ago. He informed me that Anikin Skywalker visited him as a force ghost and gave him information on Vader's fortress on Mustafar."
"Mustafa, I haven't heard that name in a while. Last I heard anyone from the alliance had any dealings that involved Mustafar was Phoenix squadron helping the Lothal cell rescue Kannan Jarrus."
"Yes, we never went there due to the potintial dangers with no or little gain."
"Why now?"
"From what Master Skywalker stated, there are Jedi items there plus other items best dealt with. Your father suggested he go and take others with him. Master Skywalker feels there might be more there plus some dangers. So he asked me for a joint operation."
"How worried did my brother seem?"
"Not overly worried, more causious."
"What units are you wanting to take?"
"Admiral Ackbar is giving me the Mon Remonda and a small fleet, Rouge squadron along with an A-wing and B-wing squadron. I'm taking Page and the Wraiths also."
"That is a sizeable force with some of our best units for what?"
"It is and for what. We don't know other some Jedi artifacts. Considering it is Vader's fortress we should be able to find a lot more. We also don't know what dangers there will be."
"Besides my brother are there any other Jedi going?"
"Horn will be there and possible Mara Jade. Other than that, I do not know yet. Iella is acting as the go between. She had not heard from Master Skywalker as of today. He had something else to do before we set out, so he might not have received my message I sent him yet." Cracken commlink beep just then.
Leia let him know he could answer it because it was probably important for their meeting to be interrupted.
Answering his commlink "This better be important."
"It is General. I just heard back from Mara. She says that Luke is planning on there being 8 Jedi, including him, Mara and Corran. Mara said that Tionne suggested adding Cilghal in case any medical aid is needed. She has to talk with him first. She also says that Luke needs to know how you plan on organizing the ground teams because he wants to put at least 2 Jedi with each team."
"OK, we can work that out tomorrow. I'm assuming he doesn't need to know that right away."
"No, Mara said he was just giving us a heads up. She gave me a list of the Jedi. I will have that for you when you get back."
"OK, I should be done here shortly."
"Luke is not taking any chances." Leia commented.
"No I figured there would just be a couple more. Not 5 or 6 more."
"Let me know more when you can."
Cracken stood and gave Leia a nod before walking out.
Leia sat in her office for a few more minutes just thinking. She was worried for her brother. Mustafar from what she had head of was a place during the Empire where Jedi went to die. Now here was here brother heading there willingly. Why couldn't he just stay safe here. Then there was Mara. While she liked the trader she didn't like that she and Luke seem to be spending a lot of time together lately. Well there was nothing she could do about it. She had another meeting in a few minutes. This one a personel one.
L/M
When Mara walked in the hanger bay and over where they parked the ship she saw a cable running from the ship to a control panel on the fare side of the bay. Luke came out a door just past the ship.
"Skywalker what's up with the cable?"
"Oh that. That is a data cable that is copying all the data we have on the main data storage bays on the ship to a storage bay here."
Oh, I was wondering what you were going to do with it all. Till we arrived here I thought we were going to Yavin."
"We will at some point put this is my backup site in case the Jedi are ever attacked again. This way hopefully all the Jedi data won't be lost again."
"Makes since. You never said much about this place."
"No I wanted to show you, come on."
Luke took her hand and led her to the storage room he just exited. He then went threw another door she didn't see till it opened. Luke explained that the door to the left led to living quarters the door strait ahead lead to a training area. and the right door to a command area. Which was were the Data banks were all located.
Mara was suprised. She had no idea Luke had been this busy and he has done it without anyone but him and Chewie knowing about this place. He told her Kam and Tionne knew he had a place here that he kept a backup data storage area but not all of it.
"I can't believe you kept all this quiet."
"It was not easy. Chewie and I had to do it all ourselves with the help of some construction droids. I had a small group of protical droids that maintain the place with some help with some maintance droids. I had Chewie erase all the information about this place from the construction droids before we sold them."
"I wonder what your sister and the New Republic would think?"
"Some would understand others would accuse me of starting my own rebellion. They would probably like it less once Karrde gets me more of those fighters like the Delta 7 on the ship. Depending on how many he can get I might need to build a second hanger bay just for the fighters."
"I know you are not planning on over throwing the New Republic but what are you planning?"
"I am working toward making the Jedi independant of any goverment. If we can come independant then I feel other goverments will be more willing to trust us. A lot of the independant areas don't trust the New Republic. They remember how corruped the old one was."
"So you want the jedi to be a neutral party that can go where they are needed without worrying about the New Republic telling you that you can't do this or that."
"Yes basicly. The old order became to intergrated with the Old Republic so when it fell it made it easier for Palpatine to take out the Jedi."
"You know for a farmboy you have some good ideas at times."
Luke just gave her a look before telling her more about the place. When they were done it was getting close to dinner, so Luke offered to take her to town to eat.